•Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond, Woodford Batch Proof, and newcomers from Still Austin, Penelope, Hidden Barn, Chattanooga, and Good Deeds are among the offerings featured in Whisky Advocate’s latest weekly roundup. The website has all the details.

•M.S. Walker has been named the U.S. importer for Ghost Tequila. The move bolsters the importer’s agave spirits portfolio, which also includes Tequilas like Old Mexico, Grand Mayan, and El Cobre, plus mezcals like Pelotón de la Muerte and Mezcal de Leyendas. Ghost Tequila, which the company says is on track to grow 15% this year, is available across the U.S. with a portfolio of spicy Tequilas made with ghost peppers. The brand is bottled at 40% abv and is made from 100% blue agave.

•MPL/Patco Brands, known for 1.5-million-case wine-based Margarita brand Rancho La Gloria, has formed a strategic alliance with California’s Frank-Lin Distillers Products. Under the deal, the partners will increase blending and bottling capability at Frank-Lin’s Fairfield, CA facility to above 20 million cases, allowing MPL to vertically integrate its West Coast operations. The companies also plan to use Patco’s national sales team, marketing platform, and distribution network to represent some of Frank-Lin’s current national and private label brands. The Wine Group took a minority stake in MPL Brands in 2021.

•Greg Hall has reacquired Michigan-based Virtue Cider from Anheuser-Busch. Hall founded Virtue in 2011 before selling it to A-B in 2015. Moving forward, Hall’s plans for the brand include returning to 750-ml. bottle format, renovating the tasting room at Virtue Farm, overhauling distribution, and lining up new releases through the Cider Society subscription box program. Based at the 48-acre Virtue Farm in Fennville, Michigan, Virtue makes cider from local heirloom fruit with no added sugar.